Means for dynamically adjusting mechanical time fuzes and the like



Nov. 27, 1962 Filed May 12, 1961 G. S. WESTERMAN MEANS FOR DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING MECHANICAL TIME FUZES AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Illl lllllll IIIIII INVENTOR. GEORGE S. WESTERMAN /f @4204, Q1 ipmx 941W ATTO RNEY Nov. 27, 1962 G. s. WESTERMAN 3,0655626' MEANS FOR DYNAMICAL L DJUSTING MECHANICAL TIME FUZES D THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1961 Fig. 2

IIIIIIIIIIIbIIIJ 42 INVENTOR. GEORGE S. WESTERMAN ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1962 G. s. WESTERMAN 3,065,626

MEANS FOR DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTING MECHANICAL TIME FUZES AND THE LIKE Filed May 12, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 3g f I 44 E l 35 l 30 l ll I| 1 II u I! ll INVENTOR. GEORGE S. WESTERMAN y ML ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,065,626 Patented Nov. 27, 1962 The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to the adjustment or regulation or" time fuze mechanisms and more particularly concerns a fixture for aiding in the rapid and accurate regulation of time fuzes while rotating.

Mechanical time fuzes constitute a vital component in many types of artillery ammunition, rockets, missiles, and the like. Their function within a moving projectile comprises actuating other mechanisms at a specified time and hence must necessarily be precise in their movements. Since the fuze mechanisms will be rotating in the projectile at tremendous speeds, fuze regulation should preferably be accomplished under simulated spinning conditions to determine whether accuracy of the fuze is effected adversely by high centrifugal forces and other variables.

, Using the present equipment for regulating time fuzes, such for example, as the Borg or Gibbs regulating equipment, it has been necessary for the operator to stop the rotation of the fuze before any subsequent adjustment can be made. The regulating screws if more than one is used, will be disposed in spaced relation about the periphery and normal to the axis of rotation of the fuze. These screws will be manually rotated inwardly the axis of rotation if the timing is slower than desired and outwardly the axis of rotation when its timing is fast. Adjustments are made on a trial and error basis which exacts acute manual dexterity of the operator. Under normal regulating conditions about four to seven individual adjustments are required for proper regulation of a fuze, with the obvious disadvantages resulting there from.

The present invention is designed to completely overcome such disadvantages and provides a fixture which is readily attachable to conventional regulating equipment requiring only slight modification thereof. The fixture permits the fuze to be regulated While the fuze is rotating, even upwardly of 15,000 rpm, and is manually controllable by means of a simple crank.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to pro vide a device which permits time fuze mechanisms to be rapidly and accurately regulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fixture for a time fuze which will enable fuze mechanisms and the like to be rapidly, accurately and safely regulated, and especially while the fuze is rotating.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the'same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2 substantially along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 4a are views of a spring-loaded screw driver used in the practice of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention with parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGS. 6 and 6a show various views of the pinion gears of FIG. 5 and their means for coacting with the spring-loaded screw driver of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown conventional time fuze regulating equipment modified in accordance with my invention. More particularly, the modification comprises flaring a cover member 10 at its lower portions 12 to accommodate my inventive fixture to be described hereinafter.

A time fuze mechanism 14 is nested within the regulator as shown and is provided with a snap-on socket type cap 16 for retaining the fuze securely when rotated. A suitable light source 18 (power source not shown) which may optionally be shielded, as at 20, is disposed generally above the cap 16 for introducing light energy through an orifice or opening 22 in cap 16, the light being detected by a photo-electric cell either directly or by reflection from an inner surface of cover 10 adjacent the fuze, the method of detection forming no part of the invention.

Interrupting the passage of light through opening 22 is an escapement lever L (FIG. 2.) having a speed of motion controllable by a hair spring 24. The effective length of the hair spring, in turn, is adjustable by a pair of spaced regulating screws 262.6 mounted in opposed relation in the outer wall of the fuze, such that, when the screws are rotated inwardly, for example, the effective length of hair spring 24 is decreased to effect a more rapid motion of escapement lever L. The photo-electric assembly aforedescribed, therefore, functions to aid in the control of the regulation or frequency of the escapement lever at any prescribed rate of rotation of the fuze by providing means to compare the frequency of the escapement lever motion against an established frequency recommended for the fuze at that specific rate ofrotation. The established frequency and the frequency of the escapement lever motion will normally be dis played as dashes on an oscillograph tape recorder, for example, and thus indicating to the operator that the lever should be caused to run faster or slower.

The fuze 14 is removably seated in a nesting member 28 which includes a reduced diameter portion at its lower end, the member 28 being provided with a pair of vertical passageways 30-30 disposed through its non-reduced diameter portion adjacent its outer periphery, each of said passageways being capable of receiving a rack 32. The racks, in turn, engage pinions 34-34 rotatably mounted into the nesting member adjacent the vertical passageways 3ii30 in recesses 35-35 (FIG. 5), each of said pinions being provided with a retaining hub 3 6 having an axial square-edged recess 33 disposed partially therethrough for receiving a mating projection 44) of a spring-loaded screw driver 42. Each pinion 34 also includes a supporting hub 44 which is provided with an axial cylindrical bore 45 permitting its rotation around a bearing projection (not shown) extending from nest 28 at its recessed portion 35, it being understood that any suitable bearing device may be used advantageously. The spring-loaded screw drivers 42-42 coact with regulating screws 26-26 and comprise a hollow body member 46 for containing a compression spring 43 therewithin, all as shown in FIGURES 4 and 4a, and thus insuring that the projection 40 is secured within the square-edged recess 38 of pinion 34- while the working end of the screw driver engages its associated regulating screw. To this end, a plurality of oversized holes 49 is provided in cap 16 to permit the screw drivers to engage the regulating screws.

The racks 32-32 are rigidly supported on arms Sti -50 extending from an inner race 52 of a thrust bearing 54 which may suitably be of the ball or roller type. The outer race 56 of the thrust bearing does not revolve and is provided with a pair of opposed internally threaded lug members 58-58, each receiving a power screw 69 such that the thrust bearing, including the inner and outer race members, may be slidably raised or lowered along the reduced diameter section of the nest 2S and in accordance with the power screw movements. To eifect these movements the power screws are geared, as at 7 2, to a control shaft 74 which can be rotated by a manual crank 76. The nest 23 is mounted to a plate 8% which is affixed to shaft 32. of the regulating equipment.

As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the nesting member has a pair of recesses 90-90 at its uppermost portions enabling easy finger clearance in inserting and removing the screw drivers, and another pair of recesses 92-92 function similarly for manipulating the fuze and cap.

In FIGS. 3 and 5, the thrust bearing may include guide pins 94-94, if necessary, which ride uniformly within guideways 96-96 in bearing guides 98-98.

The cover is hinged at 192 permitting the cover to pivotally move therearound when handle 104 is raised or lowered.

In the operation of my inventive device, the fuze to be regulated, socket-type retaining cap and spring-loaded screw drivers are placed in their operative positions and the photoelectric assembly and tape recorder turned on. The cover will be brought to its closed position and the regulating motor started after being set at a preselected speed. The fuze, nest, screw drivers, racks, pinions, the arms aflixed to the inner race, the plate between the nest and rotating motor shaft and the entire thrust bearing excluding its outer race all rotate as a single entity. By means of the photoelectric assembly, the recorder will indicate the deviation of fuze timing from the desired timing frequency. The operator will now turn the manual crank in a direction depending upon whether the power screw needs to be raised or lowered. Vertical movement of the power screws causes a like movement in the racks. As depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawings, each rack is so positioned with its respective pinion that a vertical movement of the racks produces, through the pinions and screw drivers, a rotation in the regulating screws such that both screws move uniformly in opposing directions, i.e., move simultaneously inwardly or outwardly to decrease or increase respectively the effective length of the hair spring to control the speed of motion of the escapement lever.

The power screws are amply threaded to insure proper regulation in those fuzes requiring considerable rotation of the regulating screws.

It will be understood of course that my inventive fixture can be used to advantage with fuzes having a single regulating screw only or more than two. The racks, pinions, screw drivers, finger clearance holes, etc. will then correspond to the number of regulating screws.

Further, the entire procedure can be made automatic through servo-mechanisms connected to the motor drive shaft in conjunction with electronic synchronizing devices controlled by any established preselected frequencies.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have provided a unique device readily adaptable to conventional regulating equipment. The necessity of stopping rotation of the fuze prior to each and every adjustment thereof is completely obviated since the operator can dynamically regulate fuzes with my device. Regulation is completed rapidly to effect a high saving in manpower, machinery and money, and the human element is diminished with a concomitant augmentation in efiiciency and accuracy.

I claim:

1. In combination with a time fuze mechanism having at least one regulating screw and disposed transversely of the axis of rotation of said fuze, said screw controlling the speed of motion of an escapement lever within said fuze, means for dynamically regulating said fuze comprising a generally cylindrical nest for supporting said fuze and having a reduced diameter section at its lower portion, said nest having a number of parallel vertical passageways corresponding to the number of regulating screws adjacent its periphery at its section not so reduced in diameter, a motor driven shaft axial said nest and articulated thereto for rotation therewith, a thrust bearing axially slidable about the reduced diameter nest section, said bearing including a rotating inner race and a non-rotating outer race, a number of spaced vertical gear racks corresponding to the number of regulating screws connected to said inner race and aligned for movement within said vertical nest passageways, a pinion rotatably mounted to said nest adjacent each of said vertical passageways for coacting with each rack, each of said pinions having a hub at its inner portion providing a squareedged recess therein, means compressibly engaged between each pinion square-edged recess and its associated regulating screw and other means for providing vertical movement of said thrust bearing when said nest is rotating.

2. In a time fuze regulating equipment wherein a fuze is seated Within a generally cylindrical nest member having a reduced diameter section at its lower portions, said fuze having at least one regulating screw and disposed transversely of the axis of rotation of the fuze, said screw controlling the speed of motion of an escapement lever within said fuze, a socket-type retaining cap mounted over said fuze and having a number of orifices correspond to the number of regulating screws, said orifices being disposed transversely of said cap in alignment with said regulating screws, said cap having a vertical opening at its upper end, a light source positioned for passing light through said cap opening, said escapement lever interrupting the passage of light through said cap opening, means adjacent the cap for detecting the interrupted light, a motor driven shaft axial said nest and articulated thereto for rotation therewith, the combination with said regulating equipment of said nest having a number of parallel vertical passageways corresponding to the number of said regulating screws and adjacent its periphery at its section not so reduced in diameter, a thrust bearing axially slidable about the reduced diameter nest section, said bearing including a rotating inner race and a non-rotating outer race, a number of vertical gear racks corresponding to the number of said regulating screws connected to said inner race and aligned for movement within said vertical nest passageways, a pinion rotatably mounted to said nest adjacent each of said vertical passageways for coacting with each rack, each of said pinions having a hub at its inner portion providing a square-edged recess therein, means compressibly engaged between each pinion square-edged recess and its associated regulating screw and other means for providing vertical movement of said thrust bearing when said nest is rotating.

3. The device of claim 1 further characterized by said means compressibly engaged between each pinion squareedged recess and its associated regulating screw comprising a number of screw drivers corresponding to the number of said regulating screws, each of said screw drivers having a working end and a flange at its other end, a generally tubular member movably enclosing said flanged end, a square-edged projection extending outwardly from each of said tubular members for reception within the pinion square-edged recesses and a spring compressibly 6 contained within said tubular member between its projection end and said flange.

4. The device of claim 1 further characterized by said other means comprising a number corresponding to the number of regulating screws of opposed internally threaded lugs extending transversely outwardly and securely joined to said outer race, a power shaft screwable within each of said lugs for providing vertical movement thereof, a control shaft, a manually controllable crank aflixed to said control shaft and gearing means articulating between said control shaft and power shafts.

No references cited. 

